Cry the beloved Country Essay

The Brokenness and Restoration in South Africa "Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all." - Nelson Mandela. This quote tells us that everyone should be equal and no man should have more power over another. There are many places in Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton in which they represent the brokenness and restoration. Racial segregation and the broken tribe were the two biggest issues in South Africa.
The brokenness in South Africa is represented by the broken tribe and the segregation taking place in South Africa. "They go to Johannesburg, and there they are lost, and no one hears of them at all.” (9) This quote shows how the tribe is breaking. Gertrude went to Johannesburg to find her husband but never found him and just stayed in Johannesburg. Everyone back in the village thought she went missing, so Absalom went after her. Absalom didn’t come back at all, so then Stephen Kumalo went after both of them in hope to restore order to his family. This scene shows how Absalom and Gertrude broke the tribe by betraying their family and friends for a different lifestyle. Another example showing the brokenness of the tribe is how Gertrude went to Johannesburg to find her husband but instead became a prostitute and opened a liquor shop. Another major example of brokenness in the book is the racial segregation taking place. “I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men . . . desiring only the good of their country, come together to work for it.” (71) This quote implies if whites and natives work together, they could accomplish a lot. In the book there were lot of places where racial apartheid takes place. In chapter 12, there are many small vignettes showing racism against the natives. One of them talked about how natives shouldn’t go to school because they would then become clever criminals. Another illustration in which racism takes place between the whites and natives is how the natives work in the mines but don’t get paid as much as the whites.
Despite the broken tribe and the segregation taking place in the book there are many people and symbols that show restoration. "One day in Johannesburg, and already the tribe was being rebuilt, the house and soul being restored." (32) Gertrude had broken the tribal system by betraying her family and friends, but she changed herself by becoming a nun. She gave up everything she had in order to change herself. There were many characters in the book who tried to end racial segregation. A major example was Arthur Jarvis. He was fighting for the freedom and rights for the natives. Arthur Jarvis was elected as the president for the Boys’ Club. He donated tons and tons of money to make the club better. Arthur Jarvis helped the natives even though he had the advantage in life since he was white. James Jarvis, the father of Arthur Jarvis used to dislike natives. But after reading what his son has been fighting for, he gets inspired to change himself. When James went to the church, he shook black peoples’ hand for the first time and interacted with them. James Jarvis also gave money to Stephen Kumalo to fix the roof in his church, which shows him trying to change himself
In conclusion, the book gives many instances of racial segregation and the broken tribe, and the natives struggle to overcome these problems. Racial segregation largely takes place in the book. There were many people trying to make a difference like Arthur Jarvis and later on James Jarvis. Even though they were white and had the 3advantage in life, they reached out and helped the natives with achieving their rights. Works sited
Paton, Alan. Cry the Beloved Country. New York: Simon and Shuster, 2003. Print.